<\/p>\n
World 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi has urged African federations to “protect” their athletes after World Athletics blocked six runners from the continent who wanted to transfer their allegiance to Turkey.<\/b><\/p>\n
Switching nationality has increasingly become an attractive option for athletes seeking better incentives and structured support.<\/p>\n
However, this growing trend has contributed to a talent drain across Africa.<\/p>\n
Botswana’s Kebinatshipi acknowledged athletes “go through a lot” – particularly in preparing for international competitions – but has urged national governing bodies to offer more support.<\/p>\n
“Spending sometimes can be a bit challenging,” Kebinatshipi, 22, told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n
“I think they [African athletes] are doing that because they want to go where they can cut costs [and] be supported.”<\/p>\n
Earlier this month five Kenyans, including former women’s marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, and Nigeria’s Favour Ofili were targeted with what World Athletics, the sport’s governing body, described as “lucrative” contract offers<\/a> from Turkey.<\/p>\n Ofili’s situation drew particular attention after the 23-year-old was left off the entry list for the 100m<\/a> at the 2024 Paris Olympics because of an administrative error by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).<\/p>\n In response to the World Athletics ruling, the AFN stressed the importance of “unity” and creating the “right environment” for the sprint star to thrive.<\/p>\n “It’s just about support from federations keeping up with their status and standards,” said Kebinatshipi.<\/p>\n “That can play a big role when it comes to athletes [who] want to switch their citizenship to other countries.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n